It's Official! Woodland, Utah!!!!

It happened! It is complete! The deed is done! The five large, looseleaf-sized books complete with census, property descriptions, signature pages, and vesting deeds; the survey done by Epic Engineering with a full description of "Woodland" which includes both Summit and Wasatch Counties; the Qualifying Petition; and the Contact Sponsor and Sponsor Sheet were all successfully submitted on Friday, February 22, 2008 to both Wasatch and Summit Counties!
The Petition was signed by a member of families who first settled in Woodland, that being Elizabeth Lefler, DeLoy Bisel, Sr., John Moon and Phares Gines, with Earl McNeil as the contact sponsor. A recommendation to the Commissioners for mayor and town council was filed. That information cannot be divulged quite yet!
We ended up with 357 people in our town; a total of 2,158.11 acres; and $29,382,940 in taxable valuation! We had signatures of people in agreement of the Petition of 1,432.6 acres and $16,655,139 in taxable valuation. We needed to hit 50% of both acreage and taxable value, so you can see we were well over the percentage needed in each category! The legislature has not yet introduced the new housebill, so we were able to file and meet the requirements of the old housebill. While Wasatch County is very well aware of the requirements to become a town, as they have three pending petitions right now, Summit County does not know the rules and weren't even sure what to do with our petition, besides date it and write the time of filing down. Hurrah!!! We are on our way to becoming WOODLAND, UTAH!!!
I just had to include this cute little picture. Billie Jo, Tess and Mia came to bring me lunch one day at work. Tess and Mia wanted to see the kids out in the hall, so they stepped to the door to peek out. They were both just a little scared and stood with their arms around each other--for strength and support, I am sure. I just thought it was such a tender little scene, that I had to grab my camera and hurry to snap a very tender "sister" moment!

Oh, Give Me a Home.......

Clear blue skies, snow 4 feet deep, big, huge elk standing at the top of the hill on Lower River Road overlooking the most beautiful Valley in all the world -----
Day after day, there are four of the most beautiful creatures the eye can ever see -- standing there at the edge of the hill, trying to find a nibble of food through all the snow! They are hungry and the high country is still buried, so they have found the south slope of the hill, hoping to find a bit of something nutritious! The whole Valley has heard -- and they come every day to see. Lower River Road is congested with onlookers, just wanting to catch a glimpse of these handsome guys!
Today was one of those "Springtime in the Rockies," sort of days -- warm, mist low to the ground and snow that melts nearly as quickly as it falls. I don't know if these boys are weakened by hunger and can't move, or if they are just confident enough in their amazing beauty that they dare to stand while the onlookers gaze at them from below. There are four just west of Farrell's and then another even bigger than these guys just east of Farrell's more in the trees. If you look at Neina's blog, you will see a picture of him. Jason said he is in quite a weakened condition. I hope they find enough to eat to gain some strength and get away from the gawking public and to safety. You never know.......
Two of these boys racks have at least a four foot spread. The other two aren't quite as big - but they are definitely the hunks of the herd!
No matter what - they guys are magnificient and quite a treat for the beholder! Is it any wonder that I love this place so much!

What's Goin' On

BJ IS BACK!!!!!! How lucky can one little puppy be -- and how much luckier can the McNeil Family be? Yes, a week and three days later, we located our little BJ puppy. I had mentioned to Heidi (Atkinson) Riches, in the bank that we had lost our puppy. In a conversation between her and Sheri Marsing, Sheri mentioned they had found a puppy. Heidi saw Billie Jo and asked her if I had found my pup -- when Billie Jo said no, Heidi told her to have us call Sheri. Earl called Sheri and went up and got the pup when he got home from school. So, BJ IS HOME!!!! waiting for the Gunnerson Boys to arrive and play with him!
Here I am with the oxygen on and looking like I am dead! I actually did feel like I was dying for a couple of days, but now I think I might live! Hurrah!!!
Now it's Dad's turn and Rob is still playing nursemaid! Dad went to the doctor today and has bacterial bronchitis. Rob is taking good care of both of us and we are so glad he is here and willing to treat us so well. Billie Jo made us soup the first night and brought me a movie I wanted to see the second night. Aunt Georgia brought dinner Tuesday night and Aunt Dixie brought dinner tonight plus valentine cookies! Humm....maybe it's not so bad being sick!

Just Another Snowy Day.....

Here's our little Jack taking his first flight with crazy Grandpa Mac! Somehow, I deleted this picture the last time I blogged, so I thought I'd better include it so you could see how much fun he is having!
I told Grandpa not to fly him too long because I was afraid he would get sore around his torso. Whatever was going on -- he seemed to be having a good time!

This was how the driveway looked about a week and a half ago. DeLoy has been down with his backhoe since then and pushed the banks back and stacked it higher so we cold get in and out easily.
You can't really tell, but the snowplow is stuck behind the tractor. Dad has the tractor backed up so I can go climb up on it and pull him out. We went through this process at least a dozen times, before we got the driveway so we could get in and out.

Over the weekend, the roof of the Middle School collapsed. The snow load was just too heavy and the bricks bulged and popped! For a while, the 7th and 8th grade will be housed at the high school in every spare nook and cranny they can find, and the 6th grade will go the the gymnasium at the elementary school. Apparently they had a team of engineers up last week to look at the roofs. The Elementary School had been shoveled off, but they were told the Middle School was fine. They had to bring a bobcat in at the high school and take the snow that had slid off the roof in front of the library windows, as they were completely covered up. All in all, I think it might be June or July before all of this melts, but we should have plenty of water!

January's gone and here comes February!

Ellie and Tess really know how to party and craft up a storm! I wonder where they learned this? They always make sure I have a great birthday and wrap such great gifts for me. Ellie had purchased a bracelet she bought with 'Beaver Bucks," she earned from reading. It is beautiful! Tess gave me a CD with her favorite songs! Mia gave me a valentine she had written all by herself!

Jack had his first flying lesson with Grandpa and he loved it! He didn't cry -- but did laugh, especially when he could see his Mom!

Tim and Billie Jo gave me this beautiful sign for the house and also a very cool new top, which I wore to school today and the kids all thought I was so fashionable! Giselle had spent Friday night with us (we went to Midway and watched her dance), and Saturday morning. She gave me a darling pair of black shoes and it was fun to have her home with us!
I know I just keep saying how deep the snow is, but can you see the snow banks are almost getting as tall as Dad?

We have got to start pushing the snow off the car port, as we are starting to cover the windows up. Boy is that Indian Crossing at Heritage Fields going to be a productive place this summer!
Max and Chelsea came from Logan where they had attended a ceremony at USU for Max's Grandpa because he has been the Athletic Physician there for so long. They came down on Sunday to celebrate my birthday with us. Billie Jo served us a scrumptious meal of creme of broccoli soup, a delicious salad, homemade rolls, salmon and mashed potatoes. Chelsea made a sinfully delicious cake. After Cinderfella Tim cleared the table and did the dishes, we got out as much "stuff" as we cold locate and started crafting. Our afternoon.evening/night of crafting produced some really clever products -- including a calendar Chelsea gave me for my birthday!
I took one last picture of the "significant" couple -- Bella and Zeke -- before Bella ended her extended "farm experience." They played and played all Sunday while we tried to plow out. Zeke lets Bella be in charge and she puts her foot on him, like she really won some great wrestling match. In the playful glee, Baby BJ somehow got lost. Dad and I drove up to Grandpa and Grandma's to take them breakfast and Zeke followed us. When we got home, BJ was no where to be found. We searched and called and hunted -- but he seems to have disappeared in thin air. The only thing we can figure out is that he tried to follow Zeke and someone picked him up. Out little round, black tribute to Bella and Zeke's friendship disappeared just like that! Zeke is in depression and shock tonight -- being left all alone, so I have let him in the house. I hope he can recover -- and me too!
I know I keep saying this, but can you even tell the Baretta is hidden beneath all that snow? Maybe in May or so we might see it again! Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow! There's more on the way tomorrow!